Awards from Cornwall and Salisbury for pub and brewery

Peter Elvin with Emma Blewett, a member of his bar team, and the awards

It’s been a busy month at the Star Inn, Crowlas, home of the Penzance Brewing Co, with owner and brewer Peter Elvin presented with two awards from different branches of the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).

Firstly, he picked up the award for 2013 Cornwall pub of the year, which was presented by Cornwall CAMRA chairman, Norman Garlick. He visited the pub with a crowd of fellow members keen to toast the success of the Star as a venue and, most importantly, for the quality of beer.

The win means the pub now goes forward to the shorlist for south west pub of the year, pending an incognito inspection by a group of CAMRA members from another branch within the region.

Scillonian Peter, modest as ever and a man of few words, said “We do what we do” as he accepted the award.

The Star has become a popular community hub in Crowlas since Peter bought and re-opened the former Ushers house in 1999. In 2008 he started brewing in premises behind the pub, and the beers have gained an enormous following, not just in Cornwall but around the country, too.

The second award, indeed, recognised the quality of the ale, being a prize for runner-up beer of the festival at Salisbury CAMRA’s Winterfest earlier this year. This award, for golden beer, Trink, was presented by a Salisbury member who was on holiday in Cornwall and able to drop the certificate in personally.